Recycled Water

ALERT:The Recycled Water Fill Station is temporarily closed. Please check back for the reopening date!

LA Sanitation operates four water reclamation plants with a combined capacity of 580 million gallons of recycled water per day. Recycled water can be used in place of potable water for industrial, landscape and recreational purposes in addition to other beneficial uses, including groundwater replenishment.

Recycled water decreases the demand for potable water that is imported into the Los Angeles area. At a time when we face one of the most severe droughts in recent history, using recycled is conservation must.

Recycled Water Fill Station at LA-Glendale Water Reclamation Plant

The City of Los Angeles now offers free recycled water to all LADWP customers. Customers can now get disinfected recycled water for approved purposes, free of charge. Just bring your water containers with water-tight lids to the Residential Recycled Water Fill Station (RWFS).

Recycled water helps promote conservation by offsetting demand for precious drinking water. Customers may use recycled water only for landscaping purposes, such as maintaining trees, shrubs, gardens, and lawns.

To be eligible to receive free recycled water at the fill station, customers must complete a brief training class before filling up. Upon completion, participants can receive up to 300 gallons of disinfected tertiary recycled water per operating day.

Program Details

In order to qualify for the Residential RWFS, participants must:

Be an LADWP customer. Customers must bring their LADWP bill and a government issued ID to the Recycled Water Fill Station training for verification.

Take the Recycled Water Fill Station training provided by the LADWP.

Training is free and will be conducted on-site at the fill station.

Please RSVP by email at recycledwaterinfo@ladwp.com.

Submit a signed Recycled Water User Application and Agreement Form.

Place the LADWP-provided “Do Not Drink” purple stickers on ALL containers used for transporting recycled water.

Bring your own water-tight lid containers to the fill station. All containers will be checked for proper labeling. You must carry and maneuver your containers; LADWP personnel will not help load or carry any containers.

Recycled Water Containers

Bring your own water-tight lid container(s) to the fill station. For container suggestions, go to List of Water-Tight Lid Containers. Tie-down straps to secure the containers are recommended for your safety.

Participants will be allowed to pick up a maximum of 300 gallons of recycled water, free of charge, per program operating day. Plan accordingly when determining how much water to pick up and keep in mind the size of your vehicle when selecting transport containers. Ensure your vehicle can handle the amount and weight of recycled water you collect and transport. Driving a vehicle with heavy, sloshing liquid decreases vehicle stability and requires longer stopping distance.

Recycled Water FAQ

Q. What is recycled water and is it safe?A. Recycled water is wastewater that has been processed through primary, secondary and tertiary treatment and disinfected with chlorine. It meets the strict standards and safety regulations of the State Water Resources Control Board and is safe for all human contact except drinking.

Q. Why is recycled water not safe to drink? What happens if I drink it?A. Recycled water is not approved for drinking. However, it is treated to an extremely high standard and accidental consumption is not likely to make you ill. If you accidentally drink recycled water, there is no need to panic. Should you experience any adverse symptoms or feel unwell, consult your doctor.

Q. What are the permitted uses of recycled water?A. Based on requirements set forth in Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, tertiary-treated recycled water can be used to water lawns, gardens, trees, edible fruits, vegetables, and herbs. However, all fruits, vegetables, and herbs must be washed with drinking water prior to consumption. Recycled water tends to have a higher salt content than drinking water, so it's best to direct the recycled water to the roots of the plants and not the foliage. This will protect them from potential leaf burn.

Q. What are prohibited uses of recycled water?

Drinking

Cooking or use in the kitchen

Bathing or showering

Filling swimming pools or spas

Children's water toys

Discharging to the street gutter or storm drain system

Plumbing to a household domestic plumbing system

Q. How can I participate?A. You must be an LADWP customer. You are required to bring your LADWP bill and a government-issued photo ID to the Recycled Water Fill Station. A brief training session will be provided prior to distribution of the recycled water for first-time visitors.

You may receive up to 300 gallons of disinfected, tertiary recycled water per visit.

Q. How much will recycled water cost me?A. LADWP is offering this service at no cost to its residential and commercial customers during the Residential Recycled Water Fill Station Pilot Program.

Q. Can I water fruit and vegetable plants with recycled water?A. Yes, but you should use potable drinking water to rinse all fruits or vegetables watered with recycled water prior to consumption.

Q. What if I spill recycled water on my hands?A. If you spill recycled water on your hands just rinse your hands as you would with potable water, recycled water is not approved for human consumption

Q. Does recycled water smell funny?A. Recycled water looks and smells just like potable water. That is why it is important to go through the recycled water training and label the container with a “Do not drink, Non-potable water” label.

Q. Why is recycled water only available at LAG? A. Recycled water is at LAG to provide better operating hours for our staff to supervise recycled water usage. LAG fill station also provides better hours on the weekend for customers to use the fill station.

Q. Are there plans to open more recycled water fill stations? A. Not at this time.

Q. Why do you require a government issued ID?A. The government issued ID is for verification purposes. Recycled water is available only to LADWP customers and residents/businesses within the City of Los Angeles.

Q. What will I learn in the required course and how long does it take?A. The course is three hours long, and you will learn safe handling of recycled water.

Q. Why should I water plants with recycled water instead of tap water?A. Using recycled water instead of potable tap water helps conserve potable water for drinking and lessens the amount of water we need to import from outside the City.

Q. Why isn't there a purple pipe system across the City of Los Angeles? A. The recycled water purple pipe system is built out according to the Recycled Water Master Plan document. All purple pipe alignments must go for approval through the DWP Board.

Q. How do I know the water is safe to use?A. Recycled water is treated according to the strict standards and regulations established by the State Water Resources Control Board.

Q. Can you deliver recycled water to my home or business?A. No, you need to attend the training and pick up the water in person.

Q. As a local business, can I still get free recycled water?A. As long as you are an LADWP customer and attend the training, you may receive up to 300 gallons of disinfected, tertiary recycled water per visit. Should your business need extensive amounts of recycled water more than 300 gallons regularly,and if your business is along an existing or planned alignment of purple pipe, you may apply for purple pipe connection permit.

Q. What does the City of Los Angeles do with its recycled water?A. The City of Los Angeles uses recycled water for many things. Recycled water is used for landscaping at City-owned golf courses. Recycled water is also used for industrial use, with businesses in the Harbor area receiving recycled water. It is also used to prevent seawater intrusion in our groundwater supply through injection at the Dominguez Gap. Through the One Water LA program, the City is also studying more opportunities for the city to expand its recycled water uses.

Q. Can I use recycled water in concrete mixing?A. Yes you can use it in lieu of potable water and it is encouraged.

Prior to picking up recycled water, you must sign and turn in a user application and Agreement to LADWP staff, along with a recent LADWP bill to confirm eligibility. You must also attend a training session provided by LADWP on the proper uses of recycled water.

Your collection and storage containers must have watertight lids and not leak.

LADWP staff will place DO NOT DRINK purple stickers on each container you use. This is to ensure that everyone is aware that recycled water is stored in the container and the water is not suitable for human consumption. Do not remove the stickers.

You must secure all containers for safe transport.

Containers, hoses, and other equipment shall not be re-used to carry potable water.

Recycled water is not for drinking, playing with, or for use in food preparation or clean-up.

Use drinking water to wash all fruits, vegetables, or other edible plants that have been watered with recycled water.

DO NOT cross-connect recycled water to potable water distribution system. Recycled water shall not be placed in a storage container that is connected to the landscape irrigation system or the onsite drinking water supply.

Recycled water shall not be discharged to the street gutter or storm drain system and must not be applied in such a way to create runoff or ponding.

Recycled water shall not be applied where it could spray on external drinking water fountains, passing vehicles, buildings, or areas where food is handled or eaten.

Recycled water obtained from the Residential Recycled Water Fill Station Pilot Program must be applied by hand watering only.

Practice good sanitation habits. Wash hands with drinking water after using recycled water, especially before eating or smoking.

LADWP and LASAN may conduct site visits to ensure your proper use of recycled water and to ensure the health and safety of you, your household, business, and the public.